One of Victoria’s most ecologically valuable parks was on the brink of eradication before being revitalised by a water conservation project by Moonee Valley City Council.
After years of drought and urbanisation, Napier Park’s unique community of 250-year-old River Red Gums in Strathmore were highly stressed. Traditional approaches to stormwater management had directed water away from the park, depleting soil moisture.
Together with the Friends of Napier Park and Melbourne Water, Council recreated the original watercourse by re-establishing the natural water cycle, rather than a conventionally irrigated park.
The project was recently nominated as one of three finalists for the Excellence in Water Management Award in the 2016 UN Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards. At the time of writing, the winner had not yet been announced.
Moonee Valley Mayor Andrea Surace said Council was honoured that the Napier Park water conservation project had been recognised as a finalist for such a prestigious award.
“Napier Park now has a sustainable water supply thanks to this project. This was achieved by redirecting stormwater from surrounding streets into the park’s reinstated watercourse, resulting in natural watering of the park.
“What we created at Napier Park was a solution that mimicked nature to slow and clean stormwater whilst also allowing water to penetrate the surrounding soil, improving soil moisture and plant health in the park.
“One of the key benefits of this project has been the significant improvement in the health of the 250-year-old indigenous River Red Gums located in the park.”
Portfolio holder for Environmental Sustainability, Councillor Shirley Cornish, said that Napier Park is one of only two parks in urban Melbourne that are home to grassy woodlands.
“The River Red Gums in Napier Park form part of a significant and protected community of vegetation called Plains Grassy Woodland which is one of few examples in Melbourne of the pre-European vegetation of this area,” said Cr Cornish.
“Not only has this project created a sustainable water source for the park and significantly improved the health of trees and plant life, it is also contributing to the health of Melbourne’s waterways.
“The new watercourse cleans the stormwater before it flows into Five Mile Creek, onto Moonee Ponds Creek, the Yarra River and then
on to the bay.”
